Hi I got my 1997 cherokee country in October. Lets just say i don't really have money to blow. The rig came with nice 235/75r15 big'o all terrain tires that i want to keep for now on stock rims (i belive 15x7). I eventually am going to get a lift and bigger tires but for now i just want to get new rims that will fit the current tires, but i want the same rims I get to be able to fit 31"-33" later on. I was looking and I don't know if a particular back spacing would be better or what it even means. please help!
here's a picture. [IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Deirdre/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/patrick/patrick%20006.jpg[/IMG]

 

Backspacing is how much the rim stick out from the jeep. You need 15x8 rims, and 3.75'' of BS. I have 33 12.5 15s of that backspacing and no rubbing at all.

 

Will the 15x8 fit the 235's?

 

Yes just fine. Like I said...i have a 12.5'' tire on an 8 '' rim.

 

Yeah they will fit just fine.

 

Working at a tire store in my youth thought me a few things one of them is that when it comes to rim size most of the people on this form don't know what They are talking about. You never want a tire to be more then 4" wider then your rim. For one it looks like crap, the tire looks more like a balloon then a tire. Besides numerous safety issues. There are some broke people who do get away with a 12.5 tire on a 8" wide rim but there is not one respectable tire shop or company that will agree. Back spacing is personal preference. I like my tire to stick out a little more. But you can buy ether 8" or 10" with the same backspacing.

 

thank you haha i'm new to this ****, this is my first car.

 

with the backspacing, are there any actual benefits on a preformance level or is it just looks?

 

X2 wider stance is more stable and no rub you get more use out of your tires.

 

x2


a 15x10 wheel would probably be your best bet. Check out Diamond Racing Wheels. They look pretty sick and aren't common to see on the road. They look GREAT on Volkswagens too =D

 

Yes but in this forum people think that a jeep built up on a 3'' lift and 31s is a ''built'' jeep. Go skim some threads on pirate 4x4, they will make you feel like you jeep is lamer than a mini van. Aaaaand they will laugh in your face for running a 12.5 tire on a 10'' rim. 8 is the way to go unless you want that tire spinning off the rim on the trail.

 

To an extent backspacing is a good way to get rid of some rubbing. Don't get too crazy with it though, remember that the further out your tires are the quicker it will wear out your ball joints, because your rims will just be getting more leverage and therefore putting more stress on the ball joints.

 

......and NONE of the tire mfgs that make/sell 12.50 wide tires recommend they be installed on 8" rims. Wheel/rim backspacing is the distance from the backside rim edge to the backside of the center section. Stock XJ backspacing is 5.25". Taller tires are harder for the engine to turn but this can be compensated for by changing gear ratios. Lots of reading available and good info out there......problem is, there's just about as much BS also.

C'mon guys, the OP's young, got his 1st car, it's his DD and it's an XJ. How 'bout a little LESS chest pounding/muscle flexing and get him started in the right direction. He's asked some good questions about wheels/tires for his DD, not how to convert it to full tube frame competition rock crawler running 5 psi in beadlocks.

 

djb, is correct about tire mfgs recommending a rim width of 8.5-11 inches for a 12.5 inch wide tire. You guys stating that he needs a 10 inch wide rim forgot that he said he had a good set of tires that he will run until he can buy different tires. 235x75r15s don't do well on 10 inch wide rims. An eight inch rim will work great for what he needs, 3.5 to 3.75 bs and if he wants they will work on a 12.5 inch wide tire or he could run 33x10.5r15s.

 

A 235x75x15 tire can easily be stretched onto a 15x10 inch wheel. It wouldn't look good, but it would function until he can afford tires. A 15x10 inch wheel would look a lot better with wide tires than a 15x8 inch wheel and would be a little bit more stable.